India: Violence against Christians spreads beyond Orissa
by Anne Thomas
Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 8:30 (BST)
A wave of brutal attacks on Christians in India's eastern state of Orissa has unleashed yet more violence against believers in other parts of the country.
According to Gospel for Asia (GFA), churches are under attack in Jharkhand and Karnataka, a state on India's west coast.
On Sunday, at least 11 churches in Karnataka were destroyed by Hindu mobs.
One GFA missionary reported that his church had been set on fire by a mob of extremists, whilst another GFA missionary said that extremists had smashed windows, lights and broken musical instruments in an attack on his church.
"India is in a scary situation," says GFA president, KP Yohannan. "But we know that, in the end, the future is bright because Jesus is with His church."
The Evangelical Fellowship of India said that Hindu mobs had shot dead four police officers and set fire to a police station in Orissa's riot-hit Kandhamal district.
Christians continue to hold prayer meetings and protests against the violence. Thousands have sought refuge in makeshift government camps.
Secretary General of the All India Christian Council, John Dayal, said that the "military precision" of churches in Mangalore, Karnataka, implied "meticulous" planning by the extremists.
The EFI said that around 50 people had so far been arrested by police in connection with the attacks on the churches.
Yohannan stressed that the violence was being perpetrated by Hindu extremists, as opposed to peaceful mainstream Hindus.
"These people do not represent the majority of Hindus, or of the Indian people at large," said Yohannan. "This violence is led by a small group of fanatics who are bringing a bad name to India. We must pray for the people of India, and for their leaders, that peace will return to this land."
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Added: Friday, October 3, 2008, 9:50 (BST)
It has to be investigated how these Bajrang dal and SIMI and Vishuva Hindu Parishad is getting their funds from. If it is anywhere out of India or in India, all those people have to be arrested as terrorists and deported.
Killing or linching or burning people or vandalising the church, breaking the God into pieces for the reason of conversion is not acceptable. Even if any Christian found to have done a forceful conversion must be put under law and punished. No one can be forced to do anything and no one can take law in the name of any religion.
We the people have to be united and reject the organizations such as SIMI, VHP or BD, for these are the people who recruit the innocent and poor and teach them hatred on fellow humans in the name of religion. These people who shoot the arrow should be arrested and punished than the actual arrows for they are just shot from somewhere.
These terrorist organizations if not uprooted will cause severe damage to the society , particularly growing countries like India.
epramila, Bangalore
Added: Thursday, September 25, 2008, 4:27 (BST)
To Howard from Sydney,
Dude get a life. I am a Hindu Brahmin myself and I find the violent action against the Intelligent, resourceful and peaceful tiny Christian community in India abhorrent.
It was the Christian culture that created the greatest Scientists and Civilizational builders in the west. Like it or NOT, most Westerners are STILL Christian with a smaller percentage of Loud and obnoxious Athiests and Anti-Christian forces who seem like rejected losers.
If it were NOT for the Christian missionaries to educate, develop and enlighten most Asian nations including India. We would still be stuck in the stone ages !
My advise to Howard : Grow up, Use your freaking brain before you type and get a life or rather....better yet, Get a job !
Brahma Bhatt, New Delhi, India
Added: Friday, September 19, 2008, 16:08 (BST)
Atheists will always look for a way to negate or make religion irrelevant.
Because faith and spirituality has become irrelevant in them. Take the comments by Howard. Trying to use a suggestion that the Christians are themselves to blame. This is how atheists think. The mere fact that people are being killed etc are not even in their focus. They show or provide no sensitivity to this fact. Christians are being persecuted and driven out of their homes because they do not take enough action both to protect themselves and draw attention to their plight. In days of so many competing interests sometimes dramatic action or highly public displays are what makes the media unfortunately. Video these attacks if possible and post them on the internet. At least get clear images of the aftermath and distribute through the internet. But remember atheists and others are only to happy to turn their backs on religious people or communities or have them attacking themselves. Take for example the Maoist killings that were used as a catalyst in Orissa for brutal hindu violence. Yes of course be a witness but also a VOICE. Learn and communicate with the media. Demand their attention and also hold them accountable for turning a blind eye and ear.
But what is important now also is to pursue and out the government people who are encouraging these attacks. And shame them to their families communities and morals. Karma karma karma.
Paul, Sydney
Added: Friday, September 19, 2008, 4:15 (BST)
Indian government officials entrusted with maintaining peace and order should not fold their arms as their peaceful christian citizens are killed by these small groups of extremists, who could easily pass as terrorists in developed nations. I believe the government should call for help if the problem continues beyond this year.
Godwin Okafor, LAGOS, NIGERIA
Added: Friday, September 19, 2008, 3:26 (BST)
There are best, very good, good, medium, bad, very bad, worst people from every religion, language, caste, race, nation etc like normal distribution. We through out the world including our country did not have education, hospital, social care etc for the past 5000 years. One group of bad Europeans came to capture, rule and colonise during mid of 18th century to mid of 20th century. During the same period and even before, the another good group called christian missionaries came from Europe to tell the love of God Jesus Christ and they pioneered and started the schools, colleges, hospitals, social care institutions etc, which has now been followed by us also and by virtue of which India is a super power now. Because of their hospital system our population increased from 300 millions to 1000 millions now in about 60 years, which alone shows the christian missionaries love and honour for our lives and nation. Our Indians about 40 million people are enjoying high life style in so called "christian" countries with the help of them, having dual citizenship benefiting them and our country.
Before the mid of 20th century all the countries throughout the world had small and big rulers, kings, dictators etc with kingdoms for every kilometers or hundreds of kilometers; having mass killings, sexual crimes, barbarism throughout the world irrespective of religion, language, caste, race, nation etc. Every ruler will erase the history of his crimes in the past. But after mid of 20th century, we have many countries with democratic governments. We have the Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court with good Press system to ensure democracy and dignity of the individual citizen.
Thus we must not demonise any religion, language, caste, race, nation etc which are man made. We all people of the world and our country have common ancestor and we all are relatives irrespective of religion, language, caste, race, nation etc. The scientists have confirmed this fact medically. So we must not do violence/kill our own human relatives for sake of religion, language, caste, race, nation etc. We have a secular constitution and all are equal. The Indian “christians” are also Indians who are sons of soil and original inhabitants of our Great Country India and have equal rights. Another option "no religion" has to be opted in all forms and census in India. In USA, China etc there is no recognition of religion in forms.
T.Rajasekar, Hyderabad, India
Added: Thursday, September 18, 2008, 3:45 (BST)
The article above says...
"This violence is led by a small group of fanatics who are bringing a bad name to India."
But only a few days ago, here on this web site, we read of Juria Bardhan from this area of India, saying 'Even if they kill us, no problem. This will cause thousands to come to Christ.'
That sounds like 'a fanatic', and I have to wonder what contribution to this inflamatory situation this type of view, so publicly expressed, contributes to the religious bloodshed.
It is worth reading the Pew Global Forum 17 Sept. 2008, 'Unfavourable views of Jews and Muslims on the increase in Europe', particularly the sections on India, where it seems 37% of people have a negative view of Christians.
So, are Christians in India, and elsewhere, contributing to their situation here?
In fact, there is an increase of negative views towards Christians in many Western nations, perhaps in line with a rise in the more extreme versions of evangelical and pentecostal types of Christianity.
Perhaps Christians need to 'reflect' a little on their behaviours and attitudes... you know... 'planks and splinters' style.
Howard Haighter, Sydney Australia
